Grovelands Park SuDs Stream Improvement

As residents and park users may know the lake and stream in Grovelands Park have suffered from poor water quality for a number of years. Recent tests by water quality monitors have confirmed this. Often in warmer weather blue/green algae blooms in the lake, which can be harmful to people and animals. This happens because the lake is polluted, namely with high levels of the nutrients nitrate and phosphate.

Rain falling on local houses and roads runs down the drains and through rainwater sewer pipes straight into the stream and lake. Oils, grit and heavy metals form a film on the roads, and this is washed into the water too. In some cases house plumbing is misconnected, with appliances, showers, sinks and occasionally even toilets connected to the rainwater drains rather than the foul sewer. This means that waste water containing nitrates and phosphates joins the toxic cocktail from the roads, making the water even dirtier, and the stream and lake more polluted. Sadly this situation is common across our cities.

As part of our Love the Lea campaign for healthy rivers in East London we are working with Enfield Council to improve this situation. We want to intercept this water and clean it with natural processes before it reaches the stream.

The stream from the lake at Grovelands Park runs free for some distance, then drops into a culvert to flow hidden under ground. Enfield Council are planning to deculvert the stream and allow it back to its natural course

We're teaming up with them and taking the opportunity to introduce some stream cleansing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). These are systems inspired by nature which will treat the polluted water that enters the stream every time it rains.

As well as cleaning polluted water, SuDS can also help reduce flood risk, create wildlife habitat and provide new amenities for people. Our Salmons Brook Healthy River Challengeproject will see the creation of six SuDS on and next to the Salmons Brook, or by streams that run into the Salmons Brook like the one that runs through Grovelands Park. Enfield's portfolio of SuDS will be a fantastic showcase for other London boroughs to follow suit and improve their waterways too. Road run off from Seaforth Gardens and Branscombe Gardens will be intercepted and flow into an area of wet woodland for cleaning before it continues into the new natural stream. The water system here will be allowed back to nature. The work is planned for this winter 2013-2014. We’d like to know what you think of the project and water quality issues.

Update June 2014

Work is well underway on the SuDS at Grovelands. The first swales to intercept polluted water from pipes beneath Branscombe Drive have been dug at Grovelands Park, and the stream deculverting works are progressing. We should also be ready to plant at this site at the end of July.

To find out more:

To receive regular updates on the project to create SuDS and protect Enfield’s streams email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to thr Salmons Brook Healthy River Challenge and Love the Lea mailing lists.

Call 07554 402727 to talk through the plans.

Take action!

Please check your plumbing to ensure your house is not misconnected and accidentally polluting the stream. Visit www.connectright.org.uk to find out how.